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The Lost River: A Memoir of Life, Death, and Transformation on Wild Water (Sierra Club Books Publication)
Richard Bangs Manufacturer: Sierra Club Books ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 1578050634 Release Date: 2001-02-06 |
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It's tempting to write off The Lost River as just another adventure story. It certainly has all the trappings of a formulaic action blockbuster--raging rapids, hungry crocodiles, mysterious natives, even the lost Ark of the Covenant. But as veteran river-runner Richard Bangs chronicles his lifelong pursuit of "aqua incognita," he proves a refreshingly introspective adventurer, a thinking man's Indiana Jones. Not content to justify his risky forays onto earth's wildest water with a glib "because it's there," he crafts an intimate journal of his astounding trips and scrutinizes the adventure travel industry he helped create.With a ragtag band of friends and smuggled equipment, Bangs sets out in 1973 to run Ethiopia's untried rivers. But revolution and the tragic death of a friend cause him to quit the country without running the Tekeze, one of Africa's most fearsome tributaries. When he returns to run the virgin river in 1996, the Internet revolution is dawning, and Microsoft (via satellite uplink) and the Turner Corporation (via a ride-along film crew) are among his travel companions. Such fascinating historical contexts might easily have been reduced to Forrest Gump-ish window dressing for Bangs's journeys. Instead, he makes them integral to his story, using anecdotal encounters with Candice Bergen, Haile Selassie, and even Richard (Shaft) Roundtree to gently steep readers in the history of Ethiopia.
As they encounter ecosystems and peoples making first contact with Westerners, Bangs and his companions also explore the ethical and ecological ramifications of adventure travel. But rather than preach a certain course of action, he judiciously presents the various arguments for "conservation" and "progress" and lets readers draw their own conclusions. Though lacking the stylistic verve that Mark Twain or Joseph Conrad bring to the river story, Bangs is clearly a kindred spirit, with lessons well worth pondering and incredible stories to tell. --Andrew Nieland
Book Description
In the early 1970s, in a quest to run the last unexplored rivers of Africa, two young men drowned: one a client on his first river expedition; the other, author Richard Bangs's rafting partner and best friend, Lew Greenwald. Bangs and Greenwald, who had pioneered several wild rivers in Africa, shared a goal to raft Ethiopia's unrun Tekeze, but Greenwald's death and political turmoil made the dream impossible.Customer Reviews:
Really good reading.......2006-04-23
I want to run rivers.......2001-05-27
In any event, the narrative is always fascinating if the prose is somewhat heavy-handed or purple at points.
Lost River.......2001-01-18
The first 2/3 of the book are well-written and include Sobek's tragic initial commercial trip ending with a client death in the first major rapid and later the death of Lee Greenwald, who Bangs met as a client on one of his Colorado trips. Greenwald had provided the financial backing to get the fledgling Sobek company off the ground, and became an accomplished river-runner under the mentorship of Bangs and one of his closest friends.
The book builds towards a climax of the much-anticipated exploratory descent of the Tekeze, a trip Bangs had promised to do with Greenwald two decades earlier and one he must complete to bring closure to Greenwald's premature death, but here the book begins to fall a little flat. The account of the Tekeze expedition reads more like a sequence of daily journal entries that could have used a bit more editing and the writing itself takes a slight downhill turn. There are daily accounts of setting up the satellite phone to transmit reports back to Microsoft's Mungo Park online travel magazine which Bangs was hired to create. For some reason, Bangs turns to language he must feel required to use to match the technology he is using and some of his phrases are a bit heavy handed:
...the tail of the wet season has made every tree and shrub burst into hectic leaf... it feels like we're in an oversized diorama, or the middle of an IMAX film--everything is exaggerated, the colors more brilliant than enhanced photos, or HDTV."
"...and every night I have slept fitfully, as though the night currents were arching through my cerebellum, conducting bytes and bits or worried thought."
"I contemplate pulling out my Minolta for a parting shot but instead grab my DC50 Kodak digital camera..."
Although the adventure aspects of the trip do not live up to the hype the reader anticipates, the story of Bangs coming to closure with the death of Greenwald provides a thread that keeps the story interesting.
While the book does not hold the reader with the drama of Into Thin Air or the Perfect Storm, as promised on the dust jacket, it is a revealing and deeply personal account of the joys and sorrows that come from modern exploration of uncharted territory. The book is a must-read for anyone who has enjoyed previous books by Bangs and those interested in the development of modern adventure travel, exploratory boaters, and those who want to learn how Sobek came to be.
The Lost River.......1999-12-20
Within three pages "The Lost River" grabbed me and when I looked up it was 3:30AM. I didn't want to stop reading, but I had a lot to do the next day, so I headed straight to bed. In the morning I decided to read some more and by 2:00 in the afternoon, I was making phone calls to cancel my appointments so I could finish the book, which I did by 6:00 that evening.
This story is one that will stick with me for a long time. It is not only a wonderful adventure story about how he and his partners started Sobek, his rafting company, it is also an intensly personal self examination by Mr. Bangs. He dives deep into his own feelings. Ultimately, he triumphs over these feelings and by bringing the reader along this journey with him he teaches the value of good friends, the hope of great visions and the catharsis of confronting your past, head on. This is one of the great adventure stories of all time, but for me, it also served as a "self help" book. You'll be amazed and entertained by a fabulous story while going through your own internal exam at the same time.
What a superb book..........1999-11-09
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Lost River : a Memoir of life, Death, and Transformation on Wild Water.
Richard Bangs Manufacturer: Sierra Club ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover ASIN: B000X62JBE |
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Portulacaceae Through Caryophyllaceae of New York State. Contributions to a Flora of New York State XI. (Contributions to a Flora of New York State)
Richard S. Mitchell Manufacturer: New York State Museum ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: 1555572286 |
Book Description
Volume XI of a comprehensive series on the plants of New York State. Encyclopedic in its coverage, this flora includes original illustrations of all species, keys for identification, common names, synonymy, complete descriptions, economic uses, plant pest lists, exhaustive biblography, and discussions of plant variation and taxonomy for each group. A fourth of the state's species have been treated so far. Volume Eleven covers the carnations and their relatives, important in the horticultural trade and as weeds.
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C3-C4 photosynthesis in the genus Mollugo: Structure, physiology and evolution of intermediate characteristics
Robert A Kennedy Manufacturer: Botanical Society of America,] ProductGroup: Book Binding: Unknown Binding ASIN: B00072QOBU |
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Molluginaceae (Flora of Bangladesh)
Md. Salar Khan Manufacturer: Bangladesh National Herbarium, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council ProductGroup: Book Binding: Unknown Binding ASIN: B0006EC99A |
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Molluginaceae ; Aizoaceae (Flora of Libya)
Abdul Ghafoor Manufacturer: al Faateh University, Faculty of Science, Department of Botany ProductGroup: Book Binding: Unknown Binding ASIN: B0007BVZA6 |
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Seats: Your Guide to the Best Seats at the Best Prices : 150 Seating Plans to New York Metro Area Theatres, Concert Halls, & Sport Stadiums
Sandy Millman Manufacturer: Applause Theatre & Cinema Book Publishers ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: 155783301X |
Book Description
A "must-have" for theatre aficionados, this book shows the location of seats in Broadway, off-Broadway, off-off Broadway theatres, and in New York metro area theatres in New York state, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Easy to use, with color-coded price ranges, SEATS also features seating charts for major concert halls and the areaÕs sports arenas.Customer Reviews:
SEATS: NEW YORK 2ND EDITION HITS THE SHELVES.......2002-11-22
It's about time theater goers were given some consideration.......1999-01-25
A very useful tool,well presented information.......1998-12-29
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A Really Nice Prom Mess
Brian Sloan Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 0689874383 |
Book Description
High school senior Cameron Hayes gets coerced into going to the prom with a girl, even though he'd rather be with his boyfriend. The evening goes from bad to worse when his fake date gets sloshed, his boyfriend slugs him when he sees Cam kissing his fake date, and Cam flees the prom in disguise with a drug dealer. Then things really spin out of control. Over the course of one harrowing and hysterical night, Cameron's life comes undone, leading to accidental revelations, criminal adventures, and an unlikely romance.
Brian Sloan's madcap romp is a hilarious take on a teenage rite of passage -- with a decided twist.
Customer Reviews:
Twelve Hours of Hilarious Serendipity.......2006-10-25
A tale about honesty.......2006-10-02
Laugh out Loud Funny-A must read!!.......2006-06-06
A riot!.......2005-08-10
Very Enjoyable Quick Read.......2005-07-17
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Immunoenzyme Multiple Staining Methods (Royal Microscopical Society Microscopy Handbooks)
CHRIS VAN DER L Manufacturer: Garland Science ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: 1859961878 |
Customer Reviews:
Double stains are double tricky.......2002-01-18
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Reaction Mechanisms in Sulphuric Acid and Other Strong Acid Solutions (Organic Chemistry Monographs)
M. Liller Manufacturer: Academic Press Inc.,U.S. ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover ASIN: 0124500501 |
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Time-Dependant Partial Differential Equations and Their Numerical Solution (Lectures in Mathematics. ETH Zürich)
Heinz-Otto Kreiss , and Hedwig Ulmer Busenhart Manufacturer: Birkhäuser Basel ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: 3764361255 |
Book Description
In these notes we study time-dependent partial differential equations and their numerical solution. The analytic and the numerical theory are developed in parallel. For example, we discuss well-posed linear and nonlinear problems, linear and nonlinear stability of difference approximations and error estimates. Special emphasis is given to boundary conditions and their discretization. We develop a rather general theory of admissible boundary conditions based on energy estimates or Laplace transform techniques. These results are fundamental for the mathematical and numerical treatment of large classes of applications like Newtonian and non-Newtonian flows, two-phase flows and geophysical problems.
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The Articulate Voice: An Introduction to Voice and Diction, Fourth Edition
Lynn K. Wells Manufacturer: Allyn & Bacon ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0205380328 |
Book Description
Most books about voice and diction are geared toward a specific audience -- some focus on actors and broadcasters, some on speakers and leaders, others on foreigners who are learning English as a second language, and still others on people who simply need additional guidance about voice and diction. But this book covers them all. This book taps into research to help readers understand why voice improvement is vital to a positive image. A basic book for voice and articulation, this guide introduces principles of voice production and techniques for improving pitch, rate, volume, and quality. Photographs enable readers to see the shape of the mouth for certain sounds, General American English is used as an "industry standard to teach vowels and consonants. The book clearly and concisely describes voice production and explains its companion component-- hearing. Public speakers, communication specialists, ESL specialists and students, broadcasters, theater performers, and anyone interested in improving their voice and diction.Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2000-08-11
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Awakening of a Jehovah's Witness: Escape from the Watchtower Society
Diane Wilson Manufacturer: Prometheus Books ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 1573929425 |
Book Description
What Diane Wilson reveals about the inner workings of the closed Watchtower Society will shock the average person who assumes the polite, well-dressed people who pass out leaflets are much like any other conservative religious group. Wilson contends that membership in the Jehovah's Witnesses demands obedience bordering on psychological enslavement and complete suppression of individuality--yet prohibits the questioning of the teachings of the Watchtower Society.Her engrossing first-hand account will be of great interest to former Witnesses, students of cult phenomena, anyone who has ever experienced an abusive relationship, those who want to learn more about what compels people to enter this group, and all who have ever had contact with Jehovah's Witnesses.
Customer Reviews:
Review from a JW.......2007-09-25
Must read for all ex-JWs.......2007-06-12
AN OUTSTANDING ENTRY IN THIS GENRE!.......2006-12-12
Eyes Wide Open Now!.......2006-08-14
One Of THE VERY BEST Books By A Former JW!.......2006-03-08
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Combat Fleets of the World, 1988/89: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Armament (Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World)
Jean Labayle Couhat Manufacturer: Naval Inst Pr ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover ASIN: 0870211943 |
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On Law, Politics, and Judicialization
Martin Shapiro , and Alec Stone Sweet Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0199256489 |
Book Description
Across the globe, the domain of the litigator and the judge has radically expanded, making it increasingly difficult for those who study comparative and international politics, public policy and regulation, or the evolution of new modes of governance to avoid encountering a great deal of law
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EC Membership and Judicialization of British Politics (Oxford Studies in European Law)
Danny Nicol Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover ASIN: 019924779X |
Book Description
The Law Lords in `Factortame' based their acceptance of the supremacy of European Community law on an 'entirely voluntary' surrender of sovereignty by Parliament. This interdisciplinary study tells the story, from the parliamentary perspective, of how Parliament's sovereignty came to be lost. It charts the evolution of MPs' constitutional understandings by analyzing the parliamentary debates on UK attempts to join the Community, the passage of the 1972 Act and the approval of subsequent Treaty revisions. The book's pervasive theme is the transformation from a UK constitution based on politics to one based increasingly on law. It assesses the extent to which MPs understood that EC membership entailed a shift in power from legislature to courts. This is a study with profound implications for the legitimacy of Parliament as a law-making body. The book also offers two comparisons. First the understandings of British MPs are contrasted with those of Irish parliamentarians, to establish whether Ireland's more law-based constitutional culture had an effect on politicians' understandings of EC implications. Secondly, the book analyses the history of the Bill of Rights debate culminating in the passage of the Human Rights Act 1998, to investigate whether (and why) themes of parliamentary sovereignty and judicial empowerment were clearer in this context than in the EC context.
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The Judicialization of Politics in Latin America (Studies of the Americas)
Rachel Sieder , Alan Angell , and Line Schjolden Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 1403970866 Release Date: 2005-12-01 |
Book Description
During the last two decades the judiciary has come to play an increasingly important political role in Latin America. Constitutional courts and supreme courts are more active in counterbalancing executive and legislative power than ever before. At the same time, the lack of effective citizenship rights has prompted ordinary people to press their claims and secure their rights through the courts. This collection of essays analyzes the diverse manifestations of the judicialization of politics in contemporary Latin America, assessing their positive and negative consequences for state-society relations, the rule of law, and democratic governance in the region. With individual chapters exploring Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela, it advances a comparative framework for thinking about the nature of the judicialization of politics within contemporary Latin American democracies.Customer Reviews:
I waiting for my book.......2007-05-23
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On Law, Politics, and Judicialization
Alec Stone Sweet Martin Shapiro Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: B000OLK6L8 |
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Oil Spill Dispersants: Efficacy And Effects
National Research Council (U. S.) Manufacturer: National Academy Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: 030909562X |
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